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Preventing protein-protein interactions with a new tool

Proteins constantly interact with one another inside cells to perform various tasks. Blocking the binding of two or more proteins appears as a potential treatment for some diseases where these functions are altered.

1 Dec 2022

Revealing the unappreciated role of POLQ in responding to DNA replication stress

Researchers at the Francis Crick Institute, in partnership with Artios, have discovered how an enzyme involved in DNA repair (POLQ) becomes critical to the survival of some tumors when the cancer cells lose the ability to employ a more frequent way of DNA repair.

1 Dec 2022

Research could advance our understanding of evolution and the origins of cell motility

The origin of all biological movements, including walking, swimming, or flying, can be traced back to cellular movements; however, little is known about how cell motility arose in evolution.

1 Dec 2022

Enzymes hold the answer to understanding how DNA mutates

According to recent research from the University of Surrey, enzymes, which are essential for regulating how cells replicate in the human body, could be the very component that encourages DNA to spontaneously mutate, leading to potentially permanent genetic errors.

From University of Surrey 17 Nov 2022

Genetically modifying plant protein to yield more vegetable oil

At the Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore), researchers have been successful in genetically modifying a plant protein that is accountable for oil accumulation in edible nuts and plant seeds.

From Nanyang Technological University Singapore (NTU Singapore) 11 Nov 2022

Carp virus provides significant insights into immunology

In an article published in the journal Nucleic Acids Research, the team led by Prof. Alain Vanderplasschen, a virologist and immunologist at the University of Liège, describes 10 years of research on how a carp virus uses a protein domain called Zalpha (Zα) to inhibit the host cell’s defense mechanisms.

26 Sep 2022

Novel means to prevent and treat gonorrhea

According to scientists from the Georgia State University’s Institute for Biomedical Sciences, producing a mutation that impedes the way the bacterial pathogen Neisseria gonorrhoeae transmits gonorrhea might provide a novel means to prevent and treat the disease.

26 Sep 2022

Study highlights retrotransposition in CRISPR gene therapy clinical trials

Worldwide clinical studies for gene therapy utilizing CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing are now underway for a number of disorders. A study from Boston Children’s Hospital that was released in Nature Communications on June 27th, 2022, alerts readers to a possible CRISPR editing risk that has not yet been identified.

8 Jul 2022

National DNA Day 2022: an interview with Professor Matthew Cobb

To celebrate National DNA Day 2022, we spoke to science communicator Professor Matthew Cobb.

From The University of Manchester 25 Apr 2022

Study discovers links between DNA methylation and gene expression in children

A new study headed by ISGlobal, an organization financed by “Ia Caixa” Foundation, finds links between DNA methylation patterns and gene expression levels in blood samples from youngsters.

7 Apr 2022

Research reveals how a building block protein assembles to form poxvirus scaffold

Researchers at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University have revealed how poxviruses build their scaffold - a temporary protein coat that forms and disappears as the virus matures.

1 Apr 2022

A cryptic molecule can awaken killer viruses from their slumber

Some gut bacteria have a spooky superpower: they can reanimate dormant viruses lurking within other microbes.

24 Feb 2022

New proteomics method identifies proteins responsible for regulating R-loop levels in human cells

There are many different ways in which the genetic material DNA can be damaged, resulting in the development of diseases such as cancer. Certain forms of DNA damage are associated with so-called R-loops.

8 Feb 2022

Researchers gain detailed insight into the mechanism of a light-driven chloride pump

Many bacteria and unicellular algae have light-driven pumps in their cell membranes: proteins that change shape when exposed to photons such that they can transport charged atoms in or out of the cell.

4 Feb 2022

Researchers construct organized structures of hydrogel blocks using “sticky” DNA

Scientists from the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University employed minuscule DNA strands to direct the building of viewable gel blocks.

2 Feb 2022

Study findings greatly expand the ability to engineer long-range genome edits

Researchers discovered the potential of CRISPR, a tool used by bacteria to defend themselves against viral intruders, nearly a decade ago.

24 Jan 2022

Experts determine the assembly of proteins with specialized protein needles

Protein assembly is considered to be an essential factor for the development of ordered biological structures, but how about engineering one.

10 Jan 2022

Scientists test the accuracy of enzymes that copy DNA under weightlessness

Researchers at Queen’s University boarded a modified Falcon 20 aircraft at Ottawa airport on May 22nd, 2019 as part of a scheduled “vomit comet” flight. In this mode of flight, the plane repeatedly climbs in a steep parabola to 8 km, alternating with a freefall descent.

2 Dec 2021

Improving our Understanding of Bacterial Membranes

We speak to Professor Bart Hoogenboom and Georgina Benn about current research using technology to create the sharpest images of living bacteria ever recorded.

From University College London 12 Nov 2021

Simultaneously Measuring 7,000 Proteins: Groundbreaking Proteomics from SomaLogic

In this interview, we speak to Roy Smythe, CEO of SomaLogic, about their groundbreaking proteomics technology that can simultaneously measure 7,000 proteins.

From SomaLogic 4 Nov 2021

Helix News and Research

Preventing protein-protein interactions with a new tool

Revealing the unappreciated role of POLQ in responding to DNA replication stress

Research could advance our understanding of evolution and the origins of cell motility

Enzymes hold the answer to understanding how DNA mutates

Genetically modifying plant protein to yield more vegetable oil

Carp virus provides significant insights into immunology

Novel means to prevent and treat gonorrhea

Study highlights retrotransposition in CRISPR gene therapy clinical trials

National DNA Day 2022: an interview with Professor Matthew Cobb

Study discovers links between DNA methylation and gene expression in children

Research reveals how a building block protein assembles to form poxvirus scaffold

A cryptic molecule can awaken killer viruses from their slumber

New proteomics method identifies proteins responsible for regulating R-loop levels in human cells

Researchers gain detailed insight into the mechanism of a light-driven chloride pump

Researchers construct organized structures of hydrogel blocks using “sticky” DNA

Study findings greatly expand the ability to engineer long-range genome edits

Experts determine the assembly of proteins with specialized protein needles

Scientists test the accuracy of enzymes that copy DNA under weightlessness

Improving our Understanding of Bacterial Membranes

Simultaneously Measuring 7,000 Proteins: Groundbreaking Proteomics from SomaLogic

Genome Editing Has A New Code

Researchers reveal key developmental difference between the brains of modern humans and Neandertals

Cell Counting Without Slides to Reduce Waste and Cost

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